February 8, 2007
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Psalm 37
I’ve been stuck in this Psalm for a long time. I can’t read past it, I just keep coming back. It’s like mashed potatoes at Thanksgiving dinner–you know there is other food at the table, but you just don’t want to eat anything else. So you keep saying “Pass the mashed potatoes, please!” (although in real life, that’s really not healthy…it’s like Brad Pitt once said, “My two greatest enemies–Rachel Greene and complex carbohydrates…”. But I digress…)
This Psalm has some incredibly powerful stuff. Words that speak life, and speak power to the name of God. I really believe that in the first part of this Psalm there are four key things–key action verbs for every Christ-follower. Read the passage here, then let’s take a look…
1) TRUST in the Lord (v3)
2) DELIGHT yourself in the Lord (v4)
3) COMMIT your way to the Lord (v5)
4) BE STILL before the Lord (v7)I’d also quickly like to point out that the phrase (and another important action here) “Do not fret” (or worry) is mentioned three times just in these eight verses.
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We’re such worry-warts. We’re such control-freaks. Where did we inherit this idea that we can actually control our destiny? OK, forget destiny–where did we get the idea that we can control what is going to happen to us today? Or we can control the situations around us? Who is feeding us the garbage that as long as we think of everything, we’re OK–we’ll do just fine? Or that we have the power to control the universe? Man, I gotta say, sometimes I listen to the things Nathaniel says and I wonder, “Where did he learn that?” He’ll give me the exact details of how to set up the Nintendo before we play, down to “plug in my paddle, then plug in your paddle, then turn up the volume, and sit down here…” and I’m thinking “DUDE–I’ve been playing Nintendo since the 80’s–and you don’t even know what that means! Or yesterday we were eating at Boston Market and he got up to go to the bathroom, instructing Christy and I– “Don’t eat my food, and don’t let Noah touch my food, or take my fork. I’ll be right back, but don’t let Noah get my spoon or eat my macaroni and cheese, and my cornbread, cause I’m going to eat the rest when I get back, OK?”. Then ten minutes later when he went to the bathroom, he gave us the same spiel again…
…and he learned it from me.
OUCH.
Daily, I need to learn to give up my natural tendencies to be a control-freak. I need to not worry about circumstances that are not in my control–which is pretty much EVERYTHING except my own attitude. Yeah, you cannot control what goes on around you, but you CAN control your own attitude, and the person that can maintain a positive attitude in the midst of grave circumstances has truly found joy and contentment.
Trust, Delight, Commit, Be Still.
-Trust in the Lord
-Delight in the Lord
-Commit your way to the Lord
-Be still before the LordNow that tastes good…
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LOST was great. Welcome back-I’m so glad you’re with us again Sawyer, Jack, Kate, and the Others…a fantastic start to the spring season. I loved it.OK–the baby thing. Ethan was trying to steal Claire’s baby–now we find out that they tricked that chick into coming to do research to try and impregnate people on the island…ooooo, this is getting good. Good story stuff.
This blog took a long time to write…
Comments (5)
Yay for introspection. I think God is pleased when we see these things about ourselves without him having to knock us on our you-know-whats to show us.
LOST GAVE ME CHILLS.
like father, like son. that’s some big responsibility.
Lost was okay. But the Ethan connection was cool.
THE PROTECTION OF PRAISE
by John Fisher
“If you search for good, you will find favor; but if you search for evil, it will find you!”(Proverbs 11:27 NLV)
“Praise is a valuaable weapon against the enemy. War cries, frontal assaults, or special words of exorcism can’t drive back the forces of evil. Neither can the brandishing of the sword or the charge of the brigade. What keeps the powers of darknesss at bay is the simple and true praise of the Savior from a heart set free.
Christians are engaged in a battle, but going on the warpath won’t win this fight. It can even make matters worse. Christians can easily get caught up searching for evil in the world and trying to root it out, but by focusing on evil so much we bring the evil right to us. The best way to go after the enemy is with Christ on our minds and praise for him in our hearts. We so this unconsiciously all the time. We sing a little song of praise as we go about our tasks, and unseen demons rush for cover. There are some things we are better off not knowing about.
Like the complicated etchings of the classical German painter Albrecht Durer that depict hosts of angelic beings and demons warring high in the sky over peaceful, tranquil landscapes, we have little knowledge of what is really going on at any given time in the heavenly realms around us. But we need not be conscious of this. We do not require sentries on the watch every hour, fearing attack, We do not have to check behind every door. It’s better if we don’t(“If you search for evil, it will find you!) We need only be in the presence and the praise of Jesus. The enemy flees at the mere sound of his name.!
Jesus is our constant protection. He is our most maluable possession. The best protection against evil is a heart bent toward the good- seeking God in all things. Light does not fight with darkness. There is no wrestling match necessary. Light banishes darkness. They cannot occupy the same place at the same time.”
Don’t know why God prompted me to post this but…………..
Can’t wait until Tuesday!!!!!!!!
From one control freak to another, I’m totally with you on giving it up to God daily. I have been so stressed out, trying to do too many things, and sure enough – I woke up with a cold this morning. I find that God uses that to slow me down all the time, and I really don’t want Him to have to do that. Ya know?
^^AMEN
I’m with you, LOST was GREAT!! I like how they had the prep show to get everyone, (like me) up to speed. Good stuff.